Official State of Rhode Island website

Color scheme: Change the visual color theme between light or dark modes
Font size: Adjust the font size from the system default to a larger size
Line spacing: Adjust the space between lines of text from the system default to a larger size
Word spacing: Adjust the space between words from the system default to a larger size

State of Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families

Foster Care Licensing

Foster Care is a protective service provided to families experiencing difficulties so severe that children must be removed from their homes for a period of time. Children are removed to ensure their physical and emotional safety.

Foster parents (sometimes called “resource families”) are DCYF's major resource for children who need to be placed outside the home. It is the role of resource families to offer a safe and stable home to these children while working with the agency to prepare them for their reunification with their parents.

Foster Care Licensing licenses foster families, kinship foster families (this is a family who the youth or child already knows), and private foster families (these are foster families who work with one of our community partner agencies). The Foster Care and Adoption Regulations for Licensure are a helpful resource for current and prospective foster families.

Contact our Licensing Specialist

Learn More About Becoming A Foster Parent

Fingerprint Affidavit Fingerprint Affidavit PDF file, less than 1

Medical Health History Form Medical Health History Form PDF file, less than 1

Mental Health History Form Mental Health History Form PDF file, less than 1

DCYF Clearance Request.docx Word file, less than 1

Authorization to Obtain Confidential Information.docx Word file, less than 1

Authorization to Obtain Confidential Information Spanish.docx Word file, less than 1

Contact

Interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent? Learn More About Foster and Adoptive Care

Licensing Contacts

Lori D'Alessio

Division Administrator Licensing & Resource Families

Phone: (401) 528-3673

Email: Lori.DAlessio@dcyf.ri.gov

Cheryl Lepre

Licensing Chief of Practice Standards

Phone: (401) 524-1747

Email: Cheryl.Lepre@dcyf.ri.gov